U.S. patent application number 13/607462 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-13 for connector architecture and insertion profile.
This patent application is currently assigned to Apple Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Albert J. Golko, Eric S. Jol. Invention is credited to Albert J. Golko, Eric S. Jol.
Application Number | 20140073170 13/607462 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48170836 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140073170 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Golko; Albert J. ; et
al. |
March 13, 2014 |
CONNECTOR ARCHITECTURE AND INSERTION PROFILE
Abstract
Connector inserts and receptacles that provide a clear response
to a user when a connector insert is properly inserted into a
connector receptacle. One example may provide a connector system
that provides a tactile response to a user when a connector insert
is properly inserted into a connector receptacle. In other
examples, the response provided to the user may be audible as well.
The insertion of the connector insert into the connector receptacle
may follow a force profile that includes an insertion profile
defined by a substantially monotonically increasing resistance
force from the beginning of insertion until an insertion peak is
reached, followed by a click-through event leading to a final
mating position.
Inventors: |
Golko; Albert J.; (Saratoga,
CA) ; Jol; Eric S.; (San Jose, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Golko; Albert J.
Jol; Eric S. |
Saratoga
San Jose |
CA
CA |
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Apple Inc.
Cupertino
CA
|
Family ID: |
48170836 |
Appl. No.: |
13/607462 |
Filed: |
September 7, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/350 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/631 20130101;
H01R 13/6582 20130101; H01R 24/60 20130101; H01R 13/6275
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/350 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/631 20060101
H01R013/631 |
Claims
1. A connector insert comprising: an insert portion comprising: a
front, two sides, and a top and a bottom, where the front includes
two curved leading surfaces, each leading to one of the sides; and
two detents, one on each side of the insert portion, the detents
forming curved retention surfaces; wherein the curved leading
surfaces extend to the curved retention surfaces on each side of
the insert portion.
2. The connector insert of claim 1 wherein the curved leading
surfaces extend to the curved retention surfaces on each side of
the insert portion such that there is substantially no flat surface
between curved leading edges and the curved retention surfaces on
each side of the insert portion.
3. The connector insert of claim 1 further comprising a connector
insert housing to be grasped by a user when inserting the connector
insert into a connector receptacle.
4. The connector insert of claim 1 further comprising a plurality
of contacts, the contacts located on a top surface of the insert
portion and a bottom surface of the insert portion.
5. The connector insert of claim 4 wherein the plurality of
contacts are surrounded by a ground ring.
6. The connector insert of claim 5 wherein the curved leading edges
and detents are formed in the ground ring.
7. The connector insert of claim 6 wherein the ground ring is
metallic.
8. A connector receptacle comprising: a plurality of first contacts
to mate with detents on a connector insert; and a plurality of
second contacts, each to mate with a corresponding contact on the
connector insert, wherein the second contacts are positioned
relative to the first contacts such that during insertion of a
connector insert into the connector receptacle, the second contacts
engage the connector insert after the first contacts reach the
detents on the connector insert.
9. The connector receptacle of claim 8 wherein the first contacts
are located on sides of the connector receptacle.
10. The connector receptacle of claim 9 wherein the second contacts
are located on a bottom of the connector receptacle.
11. The connector receptacle of claim 10 wherein the first contacts
are ground contacts.
12. The connector receptacle of claim 11 wherein the second
contacts are signals contacts.
13. A connector system comprising: a connector insert comprising:
an insert portion comprising: a front, two sides, and a top and a
bottom, where the front includes two curved leading surfaces, each
leading to one of the sides; and two detents, one on each side of
the insert portion, the detents forming curved retention surfaces;
wherein the curved leading surfaces extend to the curved retention
surfaces on each side of the insert portion; and a connector
receptacle comprising: a plurality of first contacts to mate with
detents on a connector insert; and a plurality of second contacts,
each to mate with a corresponding contact on the connector insert,
wherein the second contacts are positioned relative to the first
contacts such that during insertion of a connector insert into the
connector receptacle, the second contacts engage the connector
insert after the first contacts reach the detents on the connector
insert.
14. The connector insert of claim 13 wherein the curved leading
surfaces extend to the curved retention surfaces on each side of
the insert portion such that there is substantially no flat surface
between curved leading edges and the curved retention surfaces on
each side of the insert portion.
15. The connector insert of claim 13 further comprising a connector
insert housing to be grasped by a user when inserting the connector
insert into a connector receptacle.
16. A connector system including a connector insert and a connector
receptacle and having a force profile, the force profile defined
by: a substantially monotonically increasing resistance force from
a beginning of insertion until a peak is reached; and a
click-through event following the peak and leading to a final
mating point, wherein a resistance at the final mating point is
less than fifteen percent of the peak.
17. The connector system of claim 16 wherein the peak is
approximately a 1 kg force.
18. The connector system of claim 16 wherein the monotonically
increasing force is due to a ground contact in the connector
receptacle being deflected by a curved leading edge of the
connector insert.
19. The connector system of claim 18 wherein the click-through
event is due to the ground contact in the connector receptacle
engaging a detent on a side of the connector insert.
20. The connector system of claim 16 wherein the click-through
event provides a tactile response that the connector insert is
properly inserted in the connector receptacle.
21. The connector system of claim 16 wherein the click-through
event provides an audible response that the connector insert is
properly inserted in the connector receptacle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to U.S. provisional application
61/694,423, filed Aug. 29, 2012 (attorney docket number
90911-P12281USP3), and U.S. application Ser. No. 13/607,439, filed
Sep. 7, 2012 (attorney docket number 90911-036710US), which are
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Each time a user interacts with an electronic device, the
user may make an evaluation regarding the quality of the device. A
pleasant experience may inform a positive evaluation by the user,
and, after a time, the user may gain the impression that the device
is of high quality and that the company making the device can be
trusted to build reliable a devices. Such an interaction may occur
each time a user inserts a connector insert into a receptacle on an
electronic device.
[0003] Electronic devices often communicate and receive power over
cable assemblies. These cable assemblies may include connector
inserts, or plugs, on one or more ends of a cable. The connector
inserts may plug into connector receptacles on electronic devices,
thereby forming one or more conductive paths for signals and
power.
[0004] Often, connector inserts are inserted by a user into a
connector receptacle by simply pushing the connector insert into
the receptacle until it cannot be inserted any further. This may
leave the user unsure as to whether a connection has been made.
This unsatisfactory experience may reflect poorly on the electronic
device and may create doubt about the electronic device with the
user.
[0005] Instead of simply pushing a connector insert into a
connector receptacle until it cannot be inserted any further, it
may be useful if there was some sort of unambiguous response
provided to the user when a connector insert is properly inserted
into a connector receptacle. If the connector insert is pleasant to
insert connector receptacle, the user may gain a favorable
impression.
[0006] Thus, what is needed are connector systems that provide a
clear response to the user when a connector insert is properly
inserted into a connector receptacle.
SUMMARY
[0007] Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may
provide connector systems that provide a clear response to a user
when a connector insert is properly inserted into a connector
receptacle. An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may
provide a connector system that provides a tactile (by feel)
response to a user when a connector insert is properly inserted
into a connector receptacle. In various embodiments of the present
invention, the response provided to the user may be audible as
well.
[0008] An illustrative embodiment of the present invention provides
a connector system including a connector insert and a connector
receptacle. The insertion of the connector insert into the
connector receptacle may follow a force profile that includes a
tactile response that may be detected by a user. This force profile
may include an insertion profile defined by a substantially
monotonically increasing resistance force from the beginning of
insertion until an insertion peak is reached, followed by a
click-through event and leading to a final mating position. In this
embodiment, a tactile response may be provided by this singular
click-through event during insertion. The insertion profile may
further include a bottoming-out portion, wherein the insertion
force increases as the connector insert is inserted beyond the
final mating point and the connector insert bottoms out in the
connector receptacle.
[0009] The force profile of this connector system may further
include an extraction profile. The extraction profile may be
defined by an increasing resistance force leading to an extraction
peak resistance, followed by a decreasing resistance force until
the connector insert is removed from the connector receptacle.
[0010] In various embodiments of the present invention, the
insertion and extraction peak resistance forces may have various
values. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the peak
forces may be approximately 1 kg, though they may have a range of
values, for example from 0.5 to 1.5 kg. They may also have
different values. The click-through event may lead to a final
mating position force that is less than 15 percent of the peak
resistance force. This difference in resistance may provide a
tactile, and perhaps audible, response to the user informing the
user that the connector insert has been properly inserted into the
connector receptacle.
[0011] Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may
provide a connector receptacle having a latch forming two ground or
other types of contacts. These ground contacts may engage a curved
leading edge of a connector insert during the beginning of
insertion. These ground contacts may substantially provide the
insertion resistance during this time. This may result in a
substantially monotonically increasing resistance force leading to
an insertion peak, which may occur when the ground contacts reach a
side of the connector insert.
[0012] In this embodiment of the present invention, as the
connector insert continues to be inserted, the ground contacts may
reach detents on sides of the connector insert. At this point, the
resistance may rapidly decrease with further insertion of the
connector insert, resulting to a click-through event. This
click-through event may result in providing a tactile, and possibly
audible, response to the user.
[0013] To increase the monotonicity of the force profile leading to
the insertion peak, other contacts in the connector receptacle may
be positioned to not engage the connector insert until the
click-through event has been reached. By positioning the other
contacts in this way, forces involved in their interaction with the
connector insert are not felt during insertion before the insertion
peak. Instead, they occur during the click-through event where they
are not as noticeable.
[0014] In this embodiment of the present invention, the other
contacts may be signal contacts, and they may include contacts for
signals, power, ground, and other types of control, bias, and other
signals. The ground (or other or other types of) contacts may be
located on sides of the connector insert, while the other or signal
contacts may be located on a bottom of the receptacle.
[0015] Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may
provide a connector insert. This connector insert may include a
front having curved leading edges that curve from the front to the
sides. Detents forming retention surfaces may be located on each
side of the connector insert. The curved leading edges may curve to
the point where the detents begin. This may result in an absence of
a flat area between the curved leading edges and the detents. This
may, in turn, provide an insertion force profile where a
click-through event directly follows a peak insertion resistance
force, thereby improving the user's interaction experience.
[0016] Various embodiments of the present invention may incorporate
one or more of these and the other features described herein. A
better understanding of the nature and advantages of the present
invention may be gained by reference to the following detailed
description and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a connector system according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a connector system according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates another view of a connector system
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 4 illustrates a force curve for a connector system
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate portions of a connector system
according to an embodiment of the present and invention;
[0022] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate portions of connector system
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate portions of a connector system
according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0024] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate portions of connector system
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a connector system according to an
embodiment of the present invention. This figure, as with the other
included figures, is shown for illustrative purposes and does not
limit either the possible embodiments of the present invention or
the claims.
[0026] A connector system according to an embodiment of the present
invention may include connector receptacle 120 and connector insert
150. In this example, connector receptacle 120 is housed in an
electronic device 110. Electronic device 110 is shown here as a
smart phone, though it may be a device such as a portable computing
device, tablet, desktop, and all-in-one computer, cell or media
phone, storage device, portable media player, navigation system,
monitor or other device consistent with embodiments of the present
invention.
[0027] Connector insert 150 may include insert portion 160, housing
180, and cable 190. Insert portion 160 may include curved leading
edges 162, detents 164, and contacts 170. Connector insert housing
180 may be held by a user when connector insert 150 is inserted
into connector receptacle 120. Cable 190 may include conductors to
convey power and signals between electronic device 120 and another
electronic device or power supply. Further details on connector
insert 150 may be found in U.S. provisional application No.
61/694,423, filed Aug. 29, 2012, which is incorporated by
reference. Further details on connector receptacle 120 may be found
in U.S. application Ser. No. 13/607,439, filed Sep. 7, 2012, which
is incorporated by reference.
[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates a connector system according to an
embodiment of the present invention. This figure includes connector
receptacle 120 and connector insert 150. Connector receptacle 120
may include side ground (or other type of) contacts 220 and signal
contacts 230. Connector receptacle 120 may further include a
bracket 240 having openings 242 to accept fasteners that may be
used to attach connector receptacle 120 to electronic device 110.
Bracket 240 may further include tabs 242 which may be soldered or
fixed to a main logic board, motherboard, flexible circuit board,
or other appropriate substrate.
[0029] Connector insert 150 may include insert portion 160, housing
180, and cable 190 as before. Connector insert 150 may further
include strain relief 195 to protect cable 190.
[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates another view of a connector system
according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector
receptacle 120 may again include side ground contacts 220 and
signal contacts 230. Side ground contacts 220 may be formed by ends
of a latch piece. Details of these latches may be found in
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/607,439, filed Sep.
7, 2012, which is incorporated by reference. Connector insert 150
again may include insert portion 160 having curved leading edges
162, detents 164, and contacts 170. Connector insert 150 may
further include housing 180 and cable 190.
[0031] When connector insert 150 is inserted into connector
receptacle 120, ground contacts 220 may reside in detents 164 on
the connector insert 150. Contacts 170 on connector insert 150 may
mate with contacts 230 in connector receptacle 120.
[0032] Again, upon insertion of connector insert 150 into connector
receptacle 120, it may be desirable to provide a clear, positive
response to the user informing the user that connector insert 150
has been properly inserted into connector receptacle 120. A force
curve that provides such a positive response is shown in the
following figure.
[0033] FIG. 4 illustrates a force curve for a connector system
according to an embodiment of the present invention. This force
curve illustrates resistance as a function of a distance that
connector insert 150 is inserted into connector receptacle 120. At
location 1, connector insert 150 is beginning to be inserted into
connector receptacle 120. As connector insert 150 is inserted
further into connector receptacle 120, side ground contacts 220 may
deflect, thereby increasing the resistance to the insertion. This
insertion resistance may substantially monotonically increase to an
insertion peak, shown here as location 2.
[0034] As connector insert 150 progresses further, a click-through
event occurs, and connector insert 150 transitions through location
3 to location 4, which may be its final mating location. The
transition from location 2 to location 4 may be referred to as a
click-through event. This click-through event may provide a
tactile, and possibly audible, response to the user inserting
connector insert 150 into connector receptacle 120.
[0035] As connector insert 150 is pushed further into connector
receptacle 120, connector insert 150 may bottom out in connector
receptacle 120, and the resistance force may begin to increase
rapidly, shown here as location 5.
[0036] As connector insert 150 is extracted from connector
receptacle 120, the extraction resistance force may increase until
an extraction peak, shown here as location 6, is reached. Beyond
that, the extraction resistance may taper off until connector
insert 150 is extracted from connector receptacle 120.
[0037] In various embodiments of the present invention, the
insertion peak and extraction peak shown here may have various
values. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, these
peaks values may be 1 kg, though in other embodiments of the
present invention, they may have different values or different
ranges of values. To provide a distinct click feel, the resistance
at location 4 may be less than 15% of the peak value at location 2.
This relatively large difference in resistance values may provide a
clear tactile response to the user. The transition distance from
location 2 to location 4 may be approximately 1 mm in various
embodiments of the present invention. During extraction, the
distance to the extraction peak value at location 6 may be
approximately 0.5 mm, though other ranges and values for these
distances may be realized consistent with embodiments of the
present invention.
[0038] Embodiments of the present invention provide connector
inserts and connector receptacles that are capable of providing a
force profile such as the force profile shown in this figure.
Examples of how this force profile may be achieved are shown in the
following figures.
[0039] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate portions of a connector system
according to an embodiment of the present and invention. FIG. 5A
illustrates a top view, while FIG. 5B illustrates a side view. For
clarity, only ground contacts 220 and signal contacts 230 are shown
from connector receptacle 120. From connector insert 150, insert
portion 160 including curved leading edges 162 and detents 164 are
shown.
[0040] In FIG. 5A, curved leading edges 162 of connector insert
portion 160 have begun to encounter ground contacts 220. In FIG.
5B, contacts 230 have not yet encountered connector insert portion
160.
[0041] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate portions of connector system
according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6A,
ground contacts 220 have reached a peak at the junction between
curved leading edge is 162 and detents 164. FIG. 6B, contacts 230
have not yet encountered connector insert portion 160.
[0042] The passage of ground contacts 220 along the curved leading
edges 162 of connector insert 150 may result in the increase in
resistance from location 1 to location 2 in the force curve of FIG.
4. Since contacts 230 have not encountered connector insert 150,
the rise from location 1 to location 2 may be substantially
monotonic and not be disrupted by spurious forces that may result
due to such contact.
[0043] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate portions of a connector system
according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7A,
ground contacts 220 begin to enter detents 164. In FIG. 7B,
contacts 230 have begun to encounter connector insert portion
160.
[0044] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate portions of connector system
according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 8A,
ground contacts 220 have reached their final mating point in
detents 164. Contacts 230 have mated with contacts 170 on connector
insert portion 160.
[0045] The transition from location 2 to location 4 results in a
large different in resistance. This large change may result in a
clear tactile, and possibly audible, response to the user informing
the user that the connector insert is properly inserted in
connector receptacle 120.
[0046] In various embodiments of the present invention, the
dimensions of connector insert 150 may vary. For example, if curved
leading edges 162 of connector insert 150 are too steep, the force
curve from location 1 to location 2 may be excessive and may not
feel right to a user. If curved leading edges 162 are too shallow,
connector insert 150, and therefore connector receptacle 120, may
become excessively long and waste space inside electronic device
110.
[0047] Also, embodiments of the present invention may arrange
curved leading edges 164 to curve right to the edge of detents 164.
In this way, there is no substantial flat spot in the force curve
of FIG. 4 near insertion peak 2. Such a flat spot may feel odd to a
user and may make the user prematurely believe that insertion is
complete.
[0048] The slope of detents 164 may also be adjusted consistent
with embodiments of the present invention. For example, if detents
164 are too shallow, the click-through event may be diminished. If
detents 164 are too deep, the extraction peak location 6 may be
excessive, which may result in an undesirable feel.
[0049] As seen above, side ground contacts 220 and signal contacts
230 may be placed relative to each other to improve connector
system operation. For example, signal contacts 230 may be located
where they do not encounter connector insert 150 until connector
insert 150 is in position for the click-through event. This may
help bury the forces created by contact between signal contacts 230
and connector insert 150 such that they do not have a significant
effect on the force profile curve of FIG. 4.
[0050] The above description of embodiments of the invention has
been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It
is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the
precise form described, and many modifications and variations are
possible in light of the teaching above. The embodiments were
chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the
invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others
skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various
embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the
particular use contemplated. Thus, it will be appreciated that the
invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents
within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *